Packing container



July 30, 1968 GREENE ETAL PACKING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1966 mm Wm mmm N WW I A a a A 4 m M a H 2 y a a; a m M 2 3/ J. 2 A/ a M/ITLI l=|m1$ a willlllllwiilmwlA Q. w 2 m; XXXX J 2 M F1 5 m v v. w T d M m #0 p a 4 rPL E y 1968 A. GREENE E L PACKING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1966 United States Patent 3,394,862 PACKING CONTAINER Abbot Greene, 24 Carter Road, and Paul Densen, 27 Colony Drive E., both of West Orange, NJ. 07052 Filed Nov. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 594,553 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates in general to a packing container, and more specifically to a packing container adapted to package and protect only the end portions of an article of manufacture and whereby the articles packed in such container can be readily stacked one on the other in a manner to prohibit relative shifting of the articles so stacked.

Heretofore, it was customary to package relatively bulky and/or otherwise fragile articles, e.g., the frame of fluorescent light fixtures, pictures, picture frames, and other rectangular articles of manufacture or the like in a cardboard carton or box of such size as to contain the entire article completely therein. For storing and shipping, the articles so packed were then usually stacked one on another. In such instances, it frequently happened that the boxes or cartons containing such articles so stacked would tumble or fall due to shifting of the boxes relative to each other; as in transport and/ or in careless stacking of the same. When this occurred, the articles contained within the boxes would often become dumped or damaged, as articles such as the light fixture frames are formed of relatively thin gauge material and are thereby easily dented and/or damaged as a result of such a fall. For this reason considerable loss or waste has been thus experienced.

Also many such articles so packed, while light in weight, are relatively bulky, and therefore diificult to handle. As a result such articles must be individually handled, thereby resulting in a waste of many man hours of labor, a waste which is readily transformed into increased handling costs and reduced profits.

Another disadvantage noted in the packaging of relatively bulky items of manufacture was that a considerable amount of paperboard and/or cardboard was required to form a box or carton to completely house or package such articles. Containers so formed generally resulted in a waste of cardboard and/or paper-board because many such articles, as for example open rectangular frame structures used as fluorescent light fixtures, picture frames, mirrors or other like articles, did not have to be entirely boxed to satisfactorily protect the same during shipping and/or handling. Consequently, not only did the prior known boxes and containers for such articles utilize more board than was necessary to protect the same, but the cost of such containers was proportionately determined relatively to the amount of board used therein. This further reduced profits to the user as such costs were normally absorbed by the user.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved packaging container constructed and ar ranged to protect the entire article while covering only the end portions of an article of manufacture and thereby resulting in a considerable savings in the amount of paperboard used and/or in the cost of a container.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved packaging container in which an article of manufacture can be readily packed and protected thereby and which is further constructed so as to facilitate stacking of the articles contained therein one on the other in a manner so as to prohibit relative shifting of the articles so stacked.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved U-shaped box construction adapted to receive the end portion only of an article of manufacture and which box construction is formed from a single blank of readily foldable material which can be readily folded between its knocked-down expanded position to its operative erected posltion.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packing container having means formed thereon whereby similarly constructed boxes may be interlocked one with another in superimposed stacked relationship so as to prevent relative shifting therebetween when adjacent containers are stacked one on the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel packing container formed of a minimum amount of material, yet capable of receiving and protecting relatively bulky items of manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packing container specifically constructed and arranged to protect the opposed end portions of a rectangular article of manufacture in a manner whereby the articles of manufacture so packed can be stacked one on the other and which stacked articles are interlocked with one another so as -to prevent relative shifting of the articles so stacked.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packing container in which the handling of the articles of manufacture contained therein is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packing container which is relatively simple in construction, which is inexpensive to fabricate, and which is positive in operation.

The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are obtained by a packing container defined by a pair of similarly constructed U-shaped boxes, each being formed from a single blank of readily foldable material, as for example cardboard, paperboard and/or the like, and each being adapted to receive the end portion of an article. Each of the respective U-shaped boxes is similarly constructed and each includes a blank having a plurality of longitudinally extending fold lines to define a bottom panel, an outer end panel, a top panel, and an inner end panel connected in end-to-end relationship, each being readily folded with respect to one another about the adjacent longitudinally extending fold line. A marginal portion is hingedly connected to the opposed side portions of the bottom panel, and each of the respective marginal portions is provided with a plurality of transversely extending fold lines to define an outer side panel, a top panel and an inner side panel hingedly connected to one another in edge-to-edge relationship, so that in the assembled or folded position of the blank, a U-shaped box construction having open end leg portions is formed.

In accordance with this invention, the blank is maintained in its assembled or folded position by means of complementary interlocking means formed on the inner end panel and the top panels of the respective side-forming portions. Also the bottom panel is formed with an interlocking flap blanked out of the plane thereof, and which is adapted to be folded out of the plane of the bottom panel to engage with complementary means formed in the top side panels when similarly constructed containers are stacked one on the other.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a packaging container defined as a pair of discreet U- shaped box formations, each of which is similarly formed from a single blank of material and which is arranged and constructed to receive only the end portions of a rectangular article of manufacture to protect or contain the same.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein each of the respective U-shaped box constructions is provided with an integrally formed interlocking flap which is adapted to be folded out of the panel from whence blanked and to be received in the complemental slots formed in a subjacent box of similar construction, so that like containers when stacked in a column are interlocked with respect to one another.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specifications in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an expanded blank construction from which the U-shaped box or container of the present invention is formed.

'FIG. 2 is a planned view of an erected U-shaped box or container formed of the blank illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the packing container taken along line 33 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary portion of a front-end view of the box taken along line 44, and illustrating the interlocking of similar boxes in stacked relationship.

FIG. 5 is a planned view of the packing container constructed in accordance with the instant invention illustrating the same as applied to an article of manufacture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial prospective view of a plurality of articles of manufacture packaged in the packing container of the present invention, and illustrated in a stacked position one on the other.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of FIG. 6, illustrating the manner in which the containers are stacked one on the other.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the expanded blank construction from which the packing container 21 of the present invention is formed. It will be understood that the material from which the blank 20 is formed may constitute any readily foldable material, as for example cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board, and/ or the like.

As shown, the blank 20 comprises a main body portion 22 having a plurality of longitudinally extending fold lines F F F which are preferably pre-scored, to facilitate the folding of the blank in a manner hereinafter set forth. A portion of the main body 22 defines a bottom panel 23 which forms the bottom of a U-shaped box 21. Hingedly connected along fold line F is the outer end panel 24 of the container 21. A top panel 25 is hingedly connected along fold line F to the outer edge of the end panel 24, and an inner end panel or front panel 26 is hingedly connected along fold line F to the outer edge of the top-forming panel 25. As best seen in FIG. 1, it will be noted that the side edge portions 26A of the front or inner end panel 26 are cut away to define an irregular outer edge. Also the front or inner end panel 26 adjacent the respective edges 26A thereof is provided with a transversely extending slot or notch 27 formed therein to define end tongues 28,

Connected to the opposed side portions of the bottom panel 23 is a marginal portion 29 integrally formed therewith. The respective marginal portions are hingedly connected to the respective side edge portions of the bottom panel 24 by means of a pre-scored fold line F A plurality of transversely extending fold lines F F partitions each respective marginal portion 29 into an outer side panel 30, a hingedly connected top side panel 31, and an inner side panel 32 hingedly connected to the top side panel 31. Each of the respective outer side panels 30 and top side panels 31 have hingedly connected thereto along fold lines F F an outer side flap 30A and a top flap 31A respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1 the top side panels 31 of the respective marginal portions 29 are each provided with a projecting finger 33. Finger 33 is formed integral with the respective top side panel 31 and lies in the plane of the top side panel 31 in the folded position of the carton.

Intermediate the ends of the top side panel 31 and the 4 adjacent inner side panel 32 and extending normal to fold line F there is provided a slot 34. It is preferred that the width of the slot be slightly greater than twice the thickness of the blank material.

In accordance with this invention, the blank 20 described can be readily folded about the respective fold lines F through F to define a U-shaped box 21 having full open end leg portions 21A, as best shown in FIG. 5. To erect the blank construction 20 of FIG. 1 to form the U-shaped box construction 21 of FIG. 2, it will be noted that the respective marginal portions 29 are first folded upwardly from the bottom panel 23 about respective fold lines F so that the outer side panel 30 is disposed normal to the bottom panel 23. The respective top side panels 31 of the marginal fold portions 251 are then each folded normal to the outer side panel 30 about fold line F so that the respective top side panels 31 are disposed in parallel, spaced overlying relationship with respect to the bottom panel 23. The inner side panels 32 of the respective marginal portions 29 are then folded about their respective fold lines F relative to the adjacent top side panel 31 so that the edge portion 32A thereof meets with or rests on the bottom panel 23, as best seen in FIG. 4. The respective outer side flaps 30A and top flaps 31A are folded about their respective fold lines F F so that each overlaps one another in the folded position thereof as noted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the outer end panel 24 is then folded upwardly with respect to the bottom panel 23 along fold line F to define the outer end wall of the box 21. The top panel 25 is then folded normal to the end panel 24 about fold line F to define a top panel extending parallel to the bottom panel 23, and the front or inner end panel 26 is then reversely folded normal to the top panel 25 about fold line F The front panel 26 is interlockingly engaged with the leg portion 21 of the box by means of the end tongue 28 thereof being received in the slots 34 formed in the respective leg portions of the box.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, it is to be noted that the slot 34 formed in the top side panel 31 and the adjacent inner end panel 32, in the folded position of the box define a slot which is capable of receiving the end tongue portions 28 of the front or inner end panel 26 to interlock the box in the assembled position.

Also in the folded position of the blank 20, it is to be noted that the outer side flaps 30A and the top flaps 31A overlap One another in the folded position of the box to form reinforced corner positions. It is also to be noted that the width of the slot 34 formed in the top side panel 31 and adjacent panel 32 is rendered substantially twice the width or thickness of the board material from which the container is formed. Accordingly, with the box construction herein described, it is to be noted that an opened rectangular article of manufacture or frame, as for example the rectangular frame of a fluorescent lighting fixture or the like can be readily packed in the packing container described.

To form the container described about the open rectangular article of manufacture, such as a frame for a lighting fixture or picture and/or the like, the article A is placed on the expanded blank 20 to rest on the bottom panel 23, as indicated in the phantom line in FIG. 1. The respective panels 30, 31 and 32 of the respective marginal portions 29 are folded about the article in a manner hereinbefore described. The end panels 24, connected top panel 25, and front end panel 26 are likewise folded about the article in a manner herein described so that the end portions of the article, in the assembled position of the blank, is securely positioned within the U-shaped box so formed. It is to be noted that the outer edges 26A of the front panel are cut away to complement the inside shape or contour of the open frame article A adapted to be contained therein. Accordingly, the front end panel 26 also functions to limit relative movement of the article A within the assembled blank 20.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 it is to be noted that the container 21 described herein is utilized to protect the opposed end portions of the rectangular framed article A of manufacture. Accordingly, it is to be noted that the entire article A need not be enclosed within the carton, and that by protecting the end portions thereof as herein described it sufiiciently protects the entire article from damage during shipping and/ or storage.

To facilitate the stacking of articles so packed one on another as viewed in FIG. 6, the present invention contemplates utilization of an interlocking flap 40 formed integrally with the bottom panel 23, which in the operative position thereof is adapted to interlock in the slot 34 formed in the subjacent panel of a similarly constructed box when stacked. As best seen in FIG. 1 the interlocking panel or flap 40 is blanked out of the extended portion of the bottom panel 23, and is adapted to be hingedly connected thereto along fold line F Accordingly, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the interlocking flap 40 can be readily folded out of the plane of the blank 20 so as to be disposed normal thereto and to depend therefrom. The end portions of the interlocking flap 40 are likewise formed with integrally locking tongue portions 41 which are adapted to be received in the slot 34 of the subjacent similarly constructed box, as noted in FIGS. 4 and 7. Accordingly, with the interlocking flap 40 of a superim posed box 21 engaged in the slots 34 of a subjacent box, it is to be noted that relative shifting of the respective boxes 21, 21 when stacked in a column as indicated in FIG. 6, is prohibited. Accordingly, articles A contained within the U-shaped boxes 21 can be readily stacked one on another in a manner whereby the respective boxes 21 are interlocked relative to one another to prohibit lateral shifting.

In handling a plurality of such boxed articles, it is to be noted that the several articles so packed can be stacked upon a skid 45 as indicated in FIG. 6, and that the boxes so stacked thereon can be readily secured or tied down by means of a wrapping band 46 or the like. In this manner it is to be noted that the stacking of the packed articles is uniform, thereby facilitating transporting of the same. When the articles A so packaged are stacked one on the other, it is to be noted that the interlocking flap 40 of the lowermost panel is maintained in the plane of the bottom panel 23 so that the bottomrnost packing container can lie flush on a suitable supporting structure, as for example the skid 45 or floor. Each of the succeeding stacked containers has its respective interlocking flap 40 folded normal to the bottom panel 23 so as to depend therefrom so that the same may be readily inserted into the slots 34 formed in the upper or top side panel 31 of the next subjacent box 21. In this manner the packaged articles can be stacked one on the other so that relative shifting of the individual boxes 21 is prohibited in the stacked arrangement.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the construction of the blank 20 is such that the same can be readily formed about an open rectangular article of manufacture A, such as the frame of a fluorescent lighting fixture or picture and/or the like, and which blank in the assembled position thereof can be readily maintained without the use of any extraneous fastening means and/ or bonding means.

The container described provides sufiicient protection for the article A, and further utilizes a minimum of paperboard.

While the instant invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be readily understood and appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A packing container for receiving only a portion of an article to be packed therein comprising a blank having a plurality of longitudinally extending fold lines defining a bottom panel, an outer end panel, a top panel, and an inner end panel,

said panels being connected in end-to-end relationship and folded relative to their respective adjacent panels along said fold lines,

marginal portions hingedly connected to the opposed side portions of said bottom panel,

each of said marginal portions having a plurality of transversely extending fold lines defining an outer side panel hingedly connected to the adjacent side end of said bottom panel,

a side top panel connected to the other edge of its respective outer side panel,

and an inner side panel hingedly connected to the other edge of the adjacent side top panel,

said respective panels of said marginal portions being adapted to be readily folded about their respective fold lines to define a substantially U-shaped box for accommodating a portion of an article,

and complemental means formed on said inner end panel and said respective side top panels for interlocking said panels in the folded position thereof, said complemental means including:

end tongues integrally formed adjacent the end of said inner end panel, and means forming a complementary slot formed in the top of each of said side top panels for receiving the corresponding end tongues in the folded position of said blank. 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including an interlocking flap blanked out of the plane of said bottom panel.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and including locking flap tongues formed adjacent the ends of said interlocking flaps whereby in the operative position said locking flap tongues are adapted to be received in the slots formed in the side top panel of a subjacent container. 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said container includes a second blank similarly constructed to said first-mentioned blank.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 and including a side panel flap and a top panel flap connected to one edge of the respective outer side panel and side top panel whereby in the folded position of said top panel flap and side panel flap there is an overlap to reinforce the end portion of said container.

6. A packing container adapted to detachably interlock with a similarly formed container when stacked one on the other comprising:

a pair of similarly constructed blanks prescored with a series of fold lines to facilitate the folding of said blanks into U-shaped box having opened end leg portions, each of said pair of boxes being adapted to receive the end portions of a rectangular article,

each of said pairs of boxes having a bottom panel portion extending between the respective opposed leg portions thereof,

an interlocking flap means blanked out of said bottom panel portion, and said interlocking flap means being adapted to be folded out of the plane of said bottom panel,

and means integrally formed on said interlocking flap for interlocking said U-shaped box with a subjacent similarly constructed box when said boxes are stacked one on the other.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said pair of U-shaped boxes includes:

spaced inner and outer end panels to define one end of said box and each of said leg portions including spaced outer and inner side panels,

and a top and bottom panel extending between the inner and outer panels of said one end and leg portions of said box.

7 r 8 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein the top References Cited panel extending between the inner and outer side panels UNITED STATES PATENTS of said leg portion includes a slot formed therein, said slot extending normal to said side panels, and 2,132,957 10/1933 Mahonesaid slot being adapted to receive the inner end panel 5 2,781,898 2/1957 nd t a1 22914 in the erected position of said box. ,895,661 7/ 1959 Budd 229 14 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein the ,9 32 11/1959 Budd 22914 interlocking flap of one box is formed with locking 2,9 8,163 4/1961 Anderson 229- 14 tongues formed adjacent the end thereof, whereby the ,2 2, 35 8/ 1965 Budd 22914 locking tongues of one box are adapted to be received in m the slot of a similarly constructed subjacent box when DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

said boxes are stacked one on the other. 

1. A PACKING CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING ONLY A PORTION OF AN ARTICLE TO BE PACKED THEREIN COMPRISING A BLANK HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FOLD LINES DEFINING A BOTTOM PANEL, AN OUTER END PANEL, A TOP PANEL, AND AN INNER END PANEL, SAID PANELS BEING CONNECTED IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP AND FOLDED RELATIVE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ADJACENT PANELS ALONG SAID FOLD LINES, MARGINAL PORTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSED SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, EACH OF SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS HAVING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FOLD LINES DEFINING AN OUTER SAID PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE ADJACENT SIDE END OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, A SIDE TOP PANEL CONNECTED TO THE OTHER EDGE OF ITS RESPECTIVE OUTER SIDE PANEL, AND AN INNER SIDE PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED OT THE OTHER EDGE OF THE ADJACENT SIDE TOP PANEL, SAID RESPECTIVE PANELS OF SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE READILY FOLDED ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE FOLD LINES TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED BOX FOR ACCOMMODATING A PORTION OF AN ARTICLE, AND COMPLEMENTAL MEANS FORMED ON SAID INNER END PANEL AND SAID RESPECTIVE SIDE TOP PANELS FOR INTERLOCKING SAID PANELS IN THE FOLDED POSITION THEREOF, SAID COMPLEMENTAL MEANS INCLUDING: END TONGUES INTEGRALLY FORMED ADJACENT THE END OF SAID INNER END PANEL, AND MEANS FORMING A COMPLEMENTARY SLOT FORMED IN THE TOP OF EACH OF SAID SIDE TOP PANELS FOR RECEIVING THE CORRESPONDING END TONGUES IN THE FOLDED POSITION OF SAID BLANK. 